A sudden downpour triggered a flash flood in Acton that stopped a Metrolink train, washed out roads, trapped cars in a river of mud and overflowed onto the southbound 14 Freeway Thursday afternoon.

About an hour after the sudden downpour, the rushing water first washed out the intersection at Red Rover Mine Road and Sierra Highway, and then overflowed onto the freeway. Cars continued trying to cross over the growing stream and avoid being washed away.

A pickup truck was seen stuck in the rushing waters. The driver climbed out of the truck and waited on the roof for rescue crews to arrive as water rushed by.

Eventually a rescue crew helicoptered in, lowering a firefighter to hoist the man up to safety, avoiding some power lines in the area.

It was one of four air rescues the department had to conduct during the sudden storm.

Syracuse Avenue turned into a raging river of mud. Other cars were seen getting stuck in water at least 3-4 feet deep.

The train itself and its passengers were not in any immediate danger. Metrolink spokesman Scott Johnson told Eyewitness News that the Antelope Valley Line train 215 originated at Union Station in Los Angeles and was heading toward Lancaster.

As the train passed through the Via Princessa Station in Santa Clarita, heading toward Acton, a section of ground near the tracks was washed out by the flood waters.

Johnson said the train then tried to head back to the station, but another portion of tracks was also affected by the flood waters.

The train sat on the tracks for more than an hour while officials evaluated their options and the condition of the tracks.

Eventually by about 7:30 p.m. they decided to send the train back to the Via Princessa Station with the passengers.

Train service was expected to continue Friday from Union Station to Via Princesa, but trains were not expected to travel past there to the three additional stations through Friday.